Tips for keeping your fitness resolution

Set food goals. It doesn't matter how much you work out if your food intake isn't supporting your goals.

YOUR HOME GYM

You can get a good workout at home for less than $100. Nike Speed Rope: $15Nike Resistance Band: $20 Stability Ball (65 cm.): $25.99Neoprene Dumbbells: $11.49 (5 lbs.)(Quoted prices are from Sports Authority in December 2008.)

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Getting in better shape and/or losing weight are very popular New Year's resolutions.

Gym memberships typically spike during January, but the economic crunch might mean doing those crunches at home or in a park.

And you don't need to spend a lot of money on expensive gym equipment, he said.

All a novice really needs for strengthening, balance and cardiovascular training is three and five-pound dumbbells, resistance bands, a stability ball and a jump rope. And don't forget to include stretching as part of your workout.

"An overall stretching routine is huge," Hill said.

On this page, Hill shows a few exercises to get you started:

Jump rope

If this is going to be your cardio workout, Hill suggests you work up to being able to jump rope for 35 to 40 minutes, five days a week.

"It's going to be great cardio," he said. "Also, it helps your central nervous system. There have been studies that show doing things that help your central nervous system help when growing older. It seems so simple, but it helps quite a bit."

Dumbbell chest press

Keep head and shoulders on ball. Start with dumbbells even with chest and push up and down.

Do two to three sets of 20 reps.

Single arm dumbbell row: Support one arm on table/bench. Pull from a straight arm position to your hip. Change arm.

Do two to three sets of 20 reps. This exercise works the bicep, back muscle lats and shoulders.

Lateral dumbbell raise: Sit on ball with arms at side of ball. Raise arms even with shoulders.